Traditional, reportage or contemporary wedding photography?

Traditional, reportage or contemporary wedding photography?   Do you really know what style you want?

Everyone’s heard the phrases, but do you really know what’s involved on your wedding day to get those images you dream of?

Here, we look at three of the most talked about photography styles and tell you the things the wedding magazines don’t.

Traditional wedding photography

Traditional wedding photographs are those which you will find in your parents’ wedding album, with family groups including aunts, uncles, cousins, 2^nd cousins, 3^rd cousins …..   you get the idea.  These images will require input from your photographer and willing guests!  Ian will take some traditional images which your grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles will love – but he will also make sure these are a mix of formal poses and more relaxed images – so they won’t quite be the structured images your parents have.

It’s a good idea to let your guests know that they will be asked to join in for half an hour or so – we always try and get the group shots done first, so your guests can then go and relax and chat once we are finished, leaving you newlyweds to spend some time with Ian.

 

Reportage (photojournalistic) photography

Some Brides and Grooms are now requesting reportage photography – most of the time because they have read the wedding magazines and seen the latest informal, relaxed, beautiful photojournalistic images.    

However, what they don’t realise is many of these images are not true “off the cuff” images – we wish it were that simple!  Quite often the photographer has a lot more input into these images that you imagine.  Photographers who cover weddings in a true reportage or photojournalist style have vast experience and great skill.   Ian will always take some reportage style photographs during the day as this will ensure your whole day’s story can unfold in your Wedding Album.

 

 

Contemporary (fashion) photography

Especially for the Bride and Groom, this style of photography requires extensive input from the photographer, possibly with lighting and other accessories being required, all of which involves time.  Ian can offer this as part of your wedding package, but you must be prepared to set aside extra time away from your guests for these images.  The results are worth it!

Wedding Traditions - Something old, something new ....

We've seen a bit of a trend over the last year of two, with some Wedding Traditions changing.

We thought we'd write a short article on how some Bride and Grooms are changing some traditions to suit their Big Day.

Arrival at The Ceremony

Traditionally, in Britain the Bride has always stood to the right of her father, (or other relative giving her away), whilst walking up the aisle, with the bridesmaids and/or pageboys a few paces behind.   However, some Brides are now choosing to let the bridesmaids and pageboys lead her to her Groom, as they usually do in America.  After all, you should keep the best until last!

It's also becoming more acceptable for the Groom to turn around and look at his Bride as she walks towards him.  A nice touch, we think, to help calm her nerves a little!

Speeches

Traditionally, the speeches have been held after the Wedding Breakfast, with the Bride's Father the first to stand up and say a little about his beautiful daughter, and welcoming her new husband to the family.

However, we are starting to see more couples choosing to give their Speeches before their meal.  For many Grooms - and Fathers - and Best Men - the Speeches are a little daunting to say the least.  By giving them before the meal, it means that everyone can really start to relax and enjoy their meal and the rest of the day.

A great idea, but a word of advice if you are thinking of doing this - check with your venue about the timings of the meal as there is a risk that the Speeches will be be longer than you anticipate and you don't want to upset the chef!

 

Who sits where

Traditionally there has always been a Top Table seating - from left to right - The Chief bridesmaid, the Groom’s dad, the Bride's mom, The Groom and Bride, the Bride's dad, the Groom's mom and the Best Man.

Today, we all know there are many blended families, who have come together later in life, and this can mean you need to be a little creative with your seating plan.

Some couples are choosing to have two or three Top Tables, perhaps with Parents at the head of their own tables, and the Bride and Goom choosing to sit with the Best Man, Ushers, or other main guests.   If you are worrying about who should sit where, then why not forget Tradition and try out a whole new layout - just for YOU.


Signing of the Guest Book

A Guest Book was originally signed immediately after the Ceremony, by way of testifying that the guests were witness to the marriage.  Today, there is wide range of Guest Books and Signing Boards available, and these are now usually signed after the Wedding Breakfast, with Guests leaving their special messages for the Bride and Groom.  And yes, we can supply them ....

Somethine old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe

Most Brides are still following one of the longest traditions of all:

Something old - to symbolise continuity
Something new - to symbolise optimism for the Bride's new life
Something borrowed - to symbolise that the Bride can depend on family and friends
Something blue - to symbolise love and fidelity

And a sixpence in your shoe - to symbolise good luck and financial fortune - traditionally worn in the Bride's left shoe.


Photography

Well, we had to mention it didn't we!

Traditional, reportage, photojournalistic, contemporary .....  what do they all mean and what do Brides really want.   Watch out for our next Blog which will hopefully explain all.


We hope we've given you a few ideas, but if you have any traditions of your own we'd love to hear about them.

Help with those Pre-Wedding nerves!

"I hate having my photo taken".

"I never look good in a photograph".

"I can never smile properly when the camera is pointing at me".

Sound familiar?   I promise, you are not alone.

As a Wedding and Portrait photographer, these are words I hear many times.  Most people are uncomfortable infront of a camera - and a handful of you will love it!

So, what can we do to help?  Well, if you are coming to us for a Portrait session that's easy.  We always allow time to take practice shots - having a laugh and play with the camera for a while, until you are at least a little more relaxed and can start to pretend the camera isn't even there.

But, what if your next photo session is actually your Wedding Day.   We can't exactly ask everyone to wait for half an hour or so on the day whilst we get rid of those camera nerves.   So, that's why we offer a pre-wedding shoot.

A few weeks before your Wedding, we can get together and spend a couple of hours getting to know each other, and playing around with a few ideas.

Here's a few images from a recent Pre-Wedding Shoot I did with Katie and Dan, who are getting married next month.

For the full slide show, click  here Pre-Wedding Shoot

Chris and Karen, Wedding at the Plough and Harrow Hotel, Edgbaston, Birmingham

We recently spent a brilliant day shooting the Wedding of Karen and Chris at the Plough and Harrow Hotel, Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The day started with Karen and her bridesmaids getting ready.  Surprisingly, a very calm atmosphere - Karen was determined to relax and enjoy her day.

Make-up artists Clouds Beauty and Male Grooming were on hand and they certainly helped set the mood for the day, which ended up being a most enjoyable and relaxed one.

With Karen all ready, we went to find the groom in waiting ....

.... and Chris was just as relaxed and looking forward to seeing his bride.

The venue was stunning, the Plough and Harrow Hotel, Edgbaston, Birmingham.  A beautiful Hotel with superb staff who ensured the day went smoothly.

After a bit of fun and banter during the speeches .....

... everyone was ready to let their hair down and enjoy the evening.

We wish Chris and Karen every happiness for their future together.

Wedding and Portrait Albums and Books - explained!

Hi, this is Tina.

If you choose ColourStone Photography as your wedding photographer, then I will have the great pleasure of helping design your Wedding Album. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to re-create your Wedding Day from the fantastic images Ian has taken, knowing you can treasure this for the rest of your lives.

As you can imagine, we speak to a lot of couples about their wedding photography and are only too aware that people get very confused about the range and types of Wedding Albums available. So I thought I would write a short post giving an overview of some of the Albums and Books we offer, either as part of our Wedding and Portrait packages or as individual products.

If you have visited photographers at Wedding Fayres, you will know only too well the amount of Wedding Albums and Books available, all with a different description, range of colours and covers. You may (or may not) be aware of the difference in quality, not only of the Album pages but also the manufacture of the Album itself.

Basically, there are three types of Wedding Albums or Books, but within these three types there are still many differences between manufacturers. The three main types of Album you will come across are:

• Traditional Albums - where your images are printed onto photographic paper and inserted onto the page with matted overlays.



• Digital Albums - sometimes referred to as Storybook Albums, where the digital image is printed directly onto the page. Our Digital Albums all come with hard thick pages and are manufactured to the highest standards.



• Coffee Table Books - again, sometimes referred to as Storybook Albums. The digital images are printed directly on the page, but the page is made of photographic paper rather than hard thick pages.

Traditional Albums


Our Traditional Albums are the ultimate in luxury, coming with a genuine leather cover and the pages have a choice of four colour options.

The difference you find from our Traditional Albums to many others is simply the quality. They are manufactured to an extremely high standard, images are printed onto high quality photographic paper and then inserted onto the page with matted overlays.

Traditional Album - with overlays

Digital Albums

Our Digital Wedding Albums come with a choice of covers, some of which can be customised for you personally with an image and/or etching.

Our Digital Albums are different to many others as they are all "lay flat", which simply means that all the pages do what they say - they lay totally flat. They also come with high quality thick rigid pages - not all Digital Albums offer rigid pages. This feature gives our Albums durability and a more luxurous feel.

Lay Flat Album - Digitally printed

Imagine a normal book. You open it, the print is sometimes printed quite close to the centre, and you end up bending the spine of the book in order to get your book to lay as flat as possible in order to read the story. Why would you want to do that to your beautiful Wedding Album? So, our Digital Wedding Albums come with "lay flat" pages as standard. This enables us to place digital images across the whole of your double page without losing any of the image in the centre.

The Albums are manufactured to a very high standard and are extremely durable and cannot be found on the High Street.

We also offer a range of other Books and Albums, either for your Wedding Day or to capture other special moments, for example a special Portrait session, Christening or Anniversary.

Parent Albums

Parent Albums are available when ordering our Digital or Traditional Wedding Albums. These are an exact replica of the main Albums, giving the same quality and durability, but are simply smaller.

Portrait Albums

Our Portrait album is designed specifically for the portrait market. These amazing Albums are available in a choice of 3 popular sizes in landscape, upright or square format, with a multitude of cover options and colours.

They are manufactured with the same attention to detail as our Digital Wedding Albums.

Portaiture Album - Digitally printed

Coffee Table Books

Our Coffee Table Books are ideal for both Weddings and Family or Children Portraits.

We offer two types of Coffee Table Books - the Inifnity range which is a "lay flat" book, or the Classic range which opens as a traditional book. Both books contain satin coated paper pages and come with hardback covers, which can be personalised just for you.

Coffee Table Books

All of our Coffee Table Books and Albums are manufactured to the highest standards and cannot be found on the High Street.

I hope you have found this useful and please get in touch about any of our photography services, we would love to talk to you to see if we can work with you.